Grant's House

Ulysses S. Grant Home

We started today at the Funicular in Dubuque. It is one of the shortest in the world and since our parking spot was at the top, we said “Why take this?” The view was pretty, the fall colors are still showing in all the trees here. We headed off to Galena, Illinois to visit the home of UlyssesS. Grant. A graduate of West Point in 1843, he fought in the Mexican American war and then left the army to become an unsuccessful farmer, then he worked for his father in the tanning business. When the civil war began he immediately volunteered for the army. Of course, he quickly rose in rank and left the war as the hero of the war. The townspeople gave him and his wife a modest home in Galena in appreciation at a cost of $2500 for the house and its furnishings. He was elected president in 1868 and served two terms. After that, he, his wife, and youngest son toured the world for two years. He ran again for President in 1880. The house was fairly typical of the time and much of the furniture is the original, including his green chair which went with him to the White House. His wife, Julia Dent Grant was the first president’s wife to be called “First Lady of the Land”. She was quite active, employing a press secretary, and was a friend of Susan B. Anthony, working to get women the vote.

Mississippi Palisades State Park

We continued on to Mississippi Palisades State Park, which is a huge bluff over the river and had spectacular views of the river from the bluffs. The sun was warm, the leaves are colorful, it was a beautiful time to be up there. We continued down the Great River Road for 250 miles, stopping occasionally to view the sights. We stopped for the night in Nauvoo, Illinois. We had a great buffet dinner in the Nauvoo hotel. I was worried about finding a place to stay, since this is a small town with only a few small hotels. But we have a quaint room in a traditional motel, the Nauvoo Motel – 12 ground floor rooms in a row. 

Fulton Windmill